DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY 
BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF NAVAL RECORDS 
701 S. COURTHOUSE ROAD, SUITE 1001 
ARLINGTON, VA 22204-2490 

Docket No: 1631-21 
Ref: Signature Date 

From: Chairman, Board for Correction of Naval Records 
To: Secretary of the Navy 

Subj: REVIEW OF NAVAL RECORD OF FORMER MEMBER 

Ref: (a) 10 U.S.C. § 1552 
Encl: (1) DD Form 149 with attachments 
      (2) Case summary 

1. Pursuant to the provisions of reference (a), Subject, hereinafter referred to as Petitioner, filed enclosure (1) with the Board for Correction of Naval Records (Board), requesting his naval record be corrected by upgrading the characterization of service from general, under honorable conditions (GEN) to honorable. 

2. The Board consisting of                 , reviewed Petitioner’s allegations of error and injustice on 19 April 2021, and pursuant to its regulations, determined the corrective action indicated below should be taken. Documentary material considered by the Board consisted of Petitioner’s application together with all material submitted in support thereof, relevant portions of Petitioner’s naval record, and applicable statutes, regulations, and policies, to include the 25 July 2018 guidance from the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness regarding equity, injustice or clemency determinations (Wilkie Memo). 

3. The Board, having reviewed all the facts of record pertaining to Petitioner's allegations of error and injustice finds as follows: 

a. Before applying to this Board, Petitioner exhausted all administrative remedies available under existing law and regulations within the Department of the Navy. 

b. Although enclosure (1) was not filed in a timely manner, it is in the interest of justice to review the application on its merits. 

c. Petitioner enlisted in the U.S. Navy on 8 December 1986. Petitioner’s record is incomplete, in that it does not contain all the documents pertaining to his administrative discharge; nevertheless, the Board presumed a regularity in the conduct of government affairs. Petitioner’s record reflects that he was discharged on 17 June 1988 with a GEN, characterization of service by reason of convenience of the government due to personality disorder, and assigned an RE-4 (not recommended for reenlistment) reentry code. 

d. Petitioner contends he was unfairly given a GEN, was racially harassed by a fellow shipmate, and subsequently got into a fight. Petitioner states he served his community, town, and territory with honor, and has given his time in helping out youth and families in need. 

CONCLUSION: 
Upon review and consideration of all the evidence of record, specifically the Petitioner’s final in-service trait average, the Board concludes Petitioner’s request warrants relief. Further, in light of the potential for future negative implications, the Board determined Petitioner’s narrative reason, separation code, and separation authority should be changed to “secretarial authority.” However, the Board determined there was insufficient evidence of an error or injustice in the assigned RE-4 reentry code and concluded the RE-4 was an appropriate and authorized reentry code and should not be changed. 

RECOMMENDATION: 
In view of the above, the Board directs the following corrective action: 

Petitioner be issued a new DD Form 214 indicating his characterization of service as “honorable,” narrative reason for separation as “secretarial authority,” separation code as “JFF,” and separation authority as “MILPERSMAN 1910-164.” No further changes be made to Petitioner’s record. 

That a copy of this report of proceedings be filed in Petitioner’s naval record. 

4. It is certified that a quorum was present at the Board’s review and deliberations, and that the foregoing is a true and complete record of the Board’s proceedings in the above-entitled matter. 

5. Pursuant to the delegation of authority set out in Section 6(e) of the revised Procedures of the Board for Correction of Naval Records (32 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 723.6(e)), and having assured compliance with its provisions, it is hereby announced that the foregoing corrective action, taken under the authority of reference (a), has been approved by the Board on behalf of the Secretary of the Navy. 


5/13/2021